23 Sweater Weather Worthy Fall Fragrances To Add To Your Cart

Best Summer Fragrances: Gourmands And Florals

Steve Madden GOLDIE Fragrance

We didn't know Steve Madden would join the ranks of the best summer fragrances this year, but we're fans of this sultry scent. In addition to sparking your feel-good emotions, the golden pear, jasmine, and amberwood scents will wrap your confidence in a warm hug.

Brown Girl Jane Carnivale Eau de Parfum

Fruity florals are an absolute summer favorite to layer on our skin, and this fragrance from Brown Girl Jane is no exception to that! This fragrance has Caribbean Mango, whipped musk, and vanilla in it, making it the perfect blend of floral and gourmand — just right for the anyone who doesn't want to overpowered by either!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild Eau de Parfum

Marc Jabocs isn't just known for being a talented fashion designer, but he's also associated with some of the best summer fragrances we've ever smelled.

The one we think you should have on your radar this year is Daisy Wild. Though it has Banana Blossom in it, you can also smell hints of Jasmine, Macadamia, Sandalwood, and Vetiver des Sables.

P.S. This is fragrance you wear to that brunch meeting.

Maison Francis Kurkdijan Amyris Femme Eau de Parfum

This is another fruity floral fragrance that smells like a fun Caribbean or European vacation in a bottle. Normally we only care to drink lemon drops or have them drizzled over our mediterranean recipes, but we'll settle for briefly smelling it in our fragrance for now!

Nette Rose Parade Eau de Parfum

Though this one is inspired by a sprawling spring afternoon, we think it can be transitional since it's still the beginning of a new season. You'll smell like rose essential, ylang ylang, and ambertonic so don't be surprised if the bees mistake you for their favorite flower. No, seriously...be careful. 👀

Moodeaux Brand New Eau de Parfum

We don't know about you, but we love fragrances we can wear to bed. Personally, this is good to lightly spritz after you've applied a body oil or body butter post-shower. It's got all the right blends of cardamom, pink pepper, coconut, and neroli petals, so you'll feel like you're sleeping on a bed of sweet-smelling flowers.

Best Summer Fragrances: Citrus

Tom Ford Costa Azzura Eau de Parfum

Not everyone likes warm gourmands or florals, so citrus fragrances are a great option! This scent is still a little woodsy, but it'll remind you of the the time you vacationed in Cabo and spent some quality time near the Pacific Ocean.

It's luxurious á la Gwen Stefani's famous single. You'll be quietly humming, "In champagne kisses, hold me in your lap of luxury," to yourself as you smell the oakwood, lemon, and cypress scents on your skin.

Gucci Bloom Profumo di Fiori Eau de Parfum

This is as classic of a citrus summer fragrance as you're going to get. It's equal parts tuberose flower, ylang ylang, jasmine, and rangoon creeper. Don't let that last scent fool you though — you'll feel like anything but a creeper while wearing this gorgeous perfume.

Packaging + Price

Both perfumes sell the same amount of product – each bottle holds 50 milliliters. One bottle of Glossier You will run you $68, while the MIX:BAR Cloud Musk costs $19.99. That means the MIX:BAR pick costs less than a third of what Glossier You is.

Based on how often I wear it, I know for a fact that the Glossier You bottle is made from glass. I enjoy how unique the bottle shape and color are – it features a gentle divot in which you can fit your thumb when you’re spritzing it alongside an understated yet signature Glossier “G” logo at the base. It’s all very minimalistic and very chic IMO. The light pink bottle and cherry red cap are just darling and make me feel super girly each time I apply it.

The MIX:BAR Cloud Musk bottle seems to be made out of a frosted glass material, while I’m certain the cap is plastic. If you’re looking for a visually similar Glossier You dupe, this bottle probably won’t feel as satisfying. Though it feels just as heavy in the hand as the Glossier You does, its shape is entirely different, sitting at a shorter height since it’s wider at the base. I do really appreciate that the labeling on the bottle is done in a reflective rose gold shade – because after all, no matter what scent you spray on, it should feel luxurious.

Wear

Pulling from my (albeit novice) experience with fragrance, there’s really no avoiding scents fading over time. The time it takes for the fragrance to waver will depend on your activity level, whether you’ve been outside or not, and even your skin type. I tested the longevity for both the Glossier You and MIX:BAR perfumes (each one on opposite wrists) during a day I worked from home to limit aromatic distractions.

Scent

According to Glossier’s website, the primary notes in Glossier You are pink pepper (described as “bright, sparkling, and spicy”), iris (“earthy, green, floral”), ambrette seeds (“woody, warm, and sweet”), and ambrox (“creamy, musky, and salty”).

There’s clearly a lot going on inside this bottle, but to me, the standout scent – and what makes it recognizable – is that sparkling pink pepper and the musky ambrox. While it is musky, it’s also magically sweet.

Glossier You also has a fun factor of personalization – it includes “You” for a reason. It’s meant to smell a little differently on everyone. I’m not sure if it’s just the marketing talking, but I adore that about it.

The MIX:BAR Cloud Musk (popularly claimed as a Glossier You dupe) has different top, middle, and bottom notes from its opponent, which is why I can definitively say it’s not a strong dupe.

With everything from blue cypress, cardamom, iris, jasmine, cotton peony, tonka beans, and sheer woods in it, the overall scent of Cloud Musk comes out more warm and spicy than bright and sparkling. I could see where beauty fans were connecting the two, though. Both perfumes have an element of iris. But because iris is more of an undertone than a main note in each, I wouldn’t say they’re very similar.

Each perfume works well respectively. They are definitely both unique in their own ways – with Glossier You being more cheerful, and MIX:BAR Cloud Musk being more sultry and mysterious. Comparing them is just not in the equation.

Shop The Scents

Glossier You Eau de Parfum

MIX:BAR Cloud Musk Eau de Parfum

1. We thought our first love was perfect and would argue with anyone who wanted us to take things slow with them.

I'll never forget the first time I fell in love at 19. I thought my ex was the "wind beneath my wings" because he had a great sense of humor and was creative like me. I told myself he was the person I was going to marry so I was offended when my parents didn't think he was mature enough to be in a serious relationship. If this sounds familiar, pull up a chair because Menon explains why we tend to idealize our first love.

"Your first love is your first experience with romantic love too, hence you typically see it with rose-colored glasses. The overwhelming emotion is often infatuation, which tends to overshadow the more critical and analytical part of our brain," she says. Sadly, this sounds like something my parents told me before but I couldn't fathom how true it was as a teen.

As the Clinical Director at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, Cavins has seen this play out before too. He says, "In your first relationship, there is a tendency to put your partner on a pedestal. The excitement of new love can create a powerful emotional fog that makes it hard to see flaws clearly."

Essentially, this "excitement of having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner supersedes" our ability to questions things we normally wouldn't put up with, according to Menon.

2. We tried to ignore the how many times our first loves disagreed with our values or goals.

While some couples are able to make their relationship work despite having a different outlook on life, sometimes it can be a sign that things aren't going to work long-term. Cavins says, "One major red flag is disregarding differences in values or goals for the future. For instance, you wish to become a parent someday while your spouse swears this will never happen— or vice versa. Early on, you might dismiss these differences, believing love will conquer all. However, these mismatched priorities can lead to resentment and challenges over time."

Honestly, I probably should've ran whenever my ex would mock my belief in God only for us to have to attend his mother and stepfather's church whenever I visited. There was so much confusion there, but I tried to dismiss it as something he needed time to work out.

Menon adds, "If this relationship makes you feel like you'e standing in quick sand - where you are trying to move forward but often feel held back in your individual aspirations, it may not be the right fit for you."

3. We thought it was 'cute' when our first loves made suggestions about which friends to avoid or what clothes to wear.

Cavins says, "Excessively possessive behaviors are another red flag that people often ignore easily when they fall in love for the first time. People tend to justify such behaviors by citing that it's due to love or protective instincts." I'm all for being in a relationship where your partner's able to see different sides of a picture, but controlling behavior shouldn't come with that. What might that look like?

Cavins says, "Your partner may frequently check in on you, offer opinions on who you should spend time with, or subtly pressure you into making choices that suit them." For example, your partner could start off making suggestions about your style that slowly morph into them controlling everything you wear. Somehow I went from being a self-professed 'girly-girl' to trying to emulate the style of 'sneakerheads' in a short amount of time. Though I love wearing everything from New Balance to Niké sneakers now, it's in a way that feels cohesive with my style.

You may have brushed this kind of behavior off because, again, you thought it meant your first love wanted the best for you. "It is understandable that such behavior hypothetically may come off as pleasant or affirming; however, they often signal an unhealthy dynamic of control rather than mutual respect," says

4. We always gave in when our first loves forced us to be affectionate.

*Sigh* I'm shaking my head for my younger self because there were many times I didn't advocate for myself in my first romantic relationship. I'd often give in to affectionate or intimate moments despite wanting personal space so I wouldn't be seen as 'boring' or uninterested in my ex. Menon says, "Given the infatuation, your first relationship can feel all-consuming and often is codependent. Hence, this may result in you overlooking that your partner does not respect your boundaries or desire for personal space."

Partly because the excitement of the relationship makes you want to spend all of your time together, until you don't. And then, it is often too late to correct a maladaptive historical pattern.

4. We always made excuses for why our partners would shower us with affection only to ignore us days later.

Let's be clear, 'love bombing' feels confusing and awful. No one should make you feel like you're the center of their universe only to ignore your calls or texts days later. But, this probably happened while you were with your first love. Cavins says, "There's a tendency for people to brush off their first love's emotional unavailability. When, for example, a partner is not responsive and not engaging in intimate discussions or does not express their feelings, some may rationalize this as them being 'just not ready.'" If that were the case, this person wouldn't have made you feel like being with you is something they truly wanted.

Of that, Cavins believes "it's important to recognize these behaviors early" because "they can result in a one-side emotional investment that leaves one party feeling unfulfilled in the long run." Sadly, my first love would have days where he was super sweet to me only to feel like I was smothering him with attention. This is also the same person who begged me to remain in our romantic relationship when he went to basic training although I felt it would be better if we chose to be friends. Imagine my surprise (and hurt) when he told me we should have an open relationship months after getting stationed for the first time.

I should've known better because he was never 100% on board with the idea of marriage until after he graduated from basic training. Cavins calls this "emotional disconnectedness." His further explanation is this is "when the initial chemistry between the partners subsides that emotional attachment matters." To avoid this, he feels "identifying and addressing any of these is critical in a case where you are looking to create a strong and healthy bond."

5. We ignored the ways our former partner blamed us whenever they got in trouble with their parents or an authority figure.

Did your first love have a hard time taking responsibility for things that went wrong by gaslighting you to absorb the blow of their mistakes? If you've furiously nodding, we should start a support group. Cavins says, "A key sign is a lack of personal or relational growth. Healthy relationships encourage mutual development, but if one partner stays stuck in old patterns while the other grows, it can create frustration and distance."

At no point should you be the reason why your first love got in trouble after answering their parents' house phone late at night after telling you to call at a certain time. It's situations like this that should've alerted us to awful behavior, but I can see how easy it is to dismiss things.

What if I'm in love for the first time and recognize these signs?

First, my heart goes out to you for being in a relationship that doesn't feel healthy. It hurts when we realize the person we thought was so great is anything but. The road to letting go of idealization may be long, but you can and will get better. Cavins says, "In the process of self-healing and recovery, the first step that must be taken is self-reflection. Ask yourself all of the necessary questions that arise, such as what this relationship means for you, what your boundaries are, and what this partnership has revealed about you as an individual."

I keep saying this, but relying on journal prompts can help you unpack a lot of things and, thankfully, Cavins agrees. He says, "You could always opt to talk to a specialist or being journaling in order to find some closure and draw meaning from the experience." Also, he wants you to start "making new memories." But, don't be passive about it.

"You will have to engage yourself in activities that will help redirect the focus of your thoughts. This could include joining a new class, engaging in a hobby, or traveling that involves some independence. These experiences can help shift your mindset from loss to growth and reinforce your identity outside of the relationship," says Cavins.

Another important thing you can do is "solicit help from others," according to him. "Calling on people you trust, like friends and family, to talk about these feelings can significantly help in healing," he says. This also helped me navigate life outside of my first real romantic relationship, reminding me that I still had a lot of love in my life that didn't begin or end with my ex.

Here are Menon's tips:

• Let yourself grieve — Let this loss run its course. If you need to feel angry, sad, distraught, nostalgic. Allow yourself the full breadth of this experience. If I ask you right now "don't think a out a yellow monkey", I can bet you just thought of a yellow monkey. We call this "the imp of the mind". When you reject feelings, or thoughts, they come back 10 times more fiercely. To move the feeling along, we must let ourselves experience it.
• Rediscover your identity (So important) — Your first love is often intertwined with self-discovery, and identity formation. Reconsider your goals, interests, values, friendships and hobbies and try to build your own sense of identity and individuality.

I saw my first love again and it feels like we're falling in love all over. Can we have a happy and healthy relationship?

I'm not going to tell you to run even though I told my ex I never wanted to speak or talk to him again. You could easily reconnect with the first person you fell in love with and realize that you're both in a place where you can have something beautiful. However, Cavins and Menon want you to be mindful if you're in this position.

"Reconnection is possible," begins Menon, "if both parties can objectively claim that they have grown emotionally and resolved the issues that held their relationship back." But, "if the reconnection is built on one person growing and the other not, it is likely to fail," she alerts. You'll need to "proceed with caution," she says because "your first love was a nostalgic era in your life that can cloud your judgement." To put it more clearly, she doesn't want you confuse "the fuzzies" with a "true knowing that the two of you can make it work."

Cavins says, "Reconnecting with a first love can trigger a strong wave of emotions, but it is important that such a decision is made with caution and a strong sense of pragmatism. Personal growth is a primary factor. Each party in the relationship must ask themselves how they have grown and evolved as individuals over time. If past patterns of conflict, immaturity, or unhealthy dynamics remain unaddressed, the same issues could resurface."

He wants you to consider these things:

• Are there any active relationships or past engagements that would make it rather difficult? That's because the feelings that come with reigniting old flames are very strong and can alter a person’s life, making it essential to start thinking from all angles before going ahead with it.
• Address previous challenges that caused the breakup in the first place. If the reasons behind the breakup have been resolved or do not exist anymore, then yes, meeting again has its prospects. However, keep in mind that, at times, memories can be selective and unfavorably distort the truth by overplaying the good qualities while avoiding the negative ones.
• Only rekindle things if both individuals are in a healthy emotional state and the decision is grounded in practical, mutual considerations—not just sentimentality or romanticized memories. Clear and honest discussions and an understanding of purpose are vital in ascertaining if rekindling the relationship will be worthwhile for both parties or if it will simply be an act of revisiting unresolved emotions.